The series with the Rays had just about everything, including good starting pitching, clutch hitting, a benches-clearing tiff, a Boone ejection and, best of all, enough “W’s” to put the Yankees safely in front of the Rays by eight games by the time it was all over (Boston is ten back.) There’s always tension and emotion when the two clubs play these days, and I really enjoy it.

I loved the way this team never seemed to give up, and in yesterday’s double-header, particularly in the nightcap, I loved the station-to-station hitting. I love homers too, of course, but moving players around the diamond was something the Yankees weren’t so good at in previous years.

German has really distinguished himself as a pitcher we can count on, and Urshela is just plain on a tear. Do we still need that starter before the deadline? Absolutely, if we’re going to step up and win this thing. The clock is ticking, Cashman. Keep working those phones.

Wasn’t Martin Prado supposed to be the Yankees’ second baseman now that Chase Headley is back? Wasn’t David Phelps supposed to be either a back-end starter or the long man out of the bullpen? They were both pretty good, so I’m still scratching my head over the trade today that sent them to the Marlins for a bunch of guys I’ve never heard of. Not that my knowledge of the Marlins or any National League team is anything to brag about, but why? Was Nathan Eovaldi really worth shipping out Prado and Phelps? He’s young and durable but his numbers aren’t great and I’d rather have Scherzer in the rotation (duh).

As for the other two we got, fine. Whatever. I hope Cashman knows what he’s doing. Domingo German sounds like a very interesting prospect, but I wouldn’t mind winning a few games in the near term, as in 2015.